Underwater gear unit for outboard motors



' E. C. KIEKHAEFER UNDERWATER GEAR UNIT FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS April 17, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 19, 1949 INVENTOR. finer fifizkaey r BY a April E7, 1951 E. c. KIEKHAEFER UNDERWATER GEAR UNIT FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 19, 1949 43 ieqw gg &4 62

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UNDERWATER GEAR UNIT FOR OUTBOARD MOTORS Filed May 19, 1949 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 filorneyy Patented Apr. 17, 1951 UNITED. STATES UNDERWATER GEAR UNIT FOR MOTORS OUTBOARD Elmer C. Kiekhaefer, Cedarburg, Wis.

Application May 19, 1949, Serial No. 94,108

This invention relates to the lower underwater 12 Claims. (Cl. 115-17) gear case unit for outboard motors and particularly to the construction and assembly of the lower unit including the engine coolant pump, and is a continuation inpart of the application of the present inventor filed May 12, 1947, Serial No. 747,443 for Outboard Motor.

The invention provides in either a conventional or a reversing lower unit, subassemblies of the parts of the unit on the respective drive and propeller shafts which are adapted to be disposed and mounted in and to close the respective recesses of. the gear case and to include the water coolant circulating means for the motor.

A principal object of the invention is toprovide for assembly of the lower unit and water pump of an outboard motor in a single piece gear case or housing.

Another object is to provide in a lower housing a pump unit therefor adapted to close the housing and to be removably disposed therein to register with the water coolant system of the motor.

Another object of the invention is to provide for the operation of the pump for circulating water to the engine at all times during the operation of the latter and to dispose the pump for assembly as a unit on the propeller shaft of the motor.

Another object is to provide for the inspection of the pump without disassembly of theother parts of the lower unit.

Another object is to reduce the number of seals required for the lower end assembly an v unit.

These and other objects and advantages will be more fully set forth in the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the pump body comprising the closure member of the underwear housing and the disc which secures the pump-body within the housing and completes the pump unit;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of an outboard motor including a lower underwear unit and pump unit shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged longitudinal vertical section through the gear case housing of the outboard motor shown in Fig.2;

tion in a reverse gear housing for an outboard motor; I

Fig. 6 is a transverse section taken on line Bfi of Fig. 5 and showing the reverse gear control rod and connecting elements of the shifting mechanism in elevation and in relation to and projected upon the section; 4 1

Fig. '7 is a plan view of a gear housing showing the pump unit as disposed in the upper end of the housing, and mounted on the drive shaft; and

Fig. 8 is a transverse vertical section of the lower unit shown in plan view in Fig. 7 and including a reverse gear assembly similar to that culating system, not shown, the housing 2 supporting engine I at its upper end,.the lower underwater propeller unit 3 carried by housing 2 at its lower'end and the drive shaft l extending vertically within housing 2 to connect engine I and the propeller unit 3.

The cylindrical pump body or cartridge member 5 shown in Fig. 1 is provided with the inner chamber 6 of circular section formed eccentrically with respect to the axis of the pump body and which opens endwise of body 5. The threaded disc 1 is adapted to be disposed, as will be described, to close chamber 6.

The lower unit 3 shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 4 is similar to that described and claimed in the above mentioned co-pending application of the present inventor and includes the gear housing, 8 and the pump member 5 shown in Fig. 1.

Housing 8' comprises a single member which 1' preferably die cast and includes the core-d vertical passage 9 opening at the planiform' upper face ill of the casting and communicating with the lower horizontal cored chamber ll opening rearwardly of the casting.

The narrow forward or leading edge section 12 of housing 8 is straight throughout the height of the casting and merges into the forward edge of the lower skeg is integrally with the housing. The enlarged torpedo section 14 projecting rearwardly of the housing 8 above skeg !3 is of circular section at its rear open end complementary to the forward end of the hub !5 for securinghousings 8 and 2', as will be described.

section I4 of housing 8 and is provided with a 1 forward upper pocket 22 which communicates within the housin with the lower end of passage 9. The shoulder 23 and the larger circular bore 24 forming the rear portion of chamber I I is machined after casting and threaded as at 25.

The upper end of drive shaft 4 is connected to the crankshaft, not shown, of engine I and extends downwardly through passage 9 into chamber II of gear housing 8. The ball bearing unit 26 is supported on shoulder 20 and carries shaft 4 in the upper machined end 2| of passage 9 and concentrically therewith. The roller bearing unit 21 is disposed in the lower end of passage 9 immediately above chamber I I and carries the lower portion of shaft 4 which is of larger diameter to provide the shoulder 28 in engagement with bearing unit 26.

The beveled drive gear 29 disposed within pocket 22 of chamber II is mounted and secured on the lower splined end 36 of shaft 4 by the screw 3|.

The roller bearing 32 mounted in the forward recess 33 of chamber ll journally supports the forward end of the shaft 34 which extends through chamber II and rearwardly thereof to carry propeller I6. The driven gear 35 secured on shaft 34 by the pin 36 meshes with gear 29 and is carried by the ball bearing unit 31. Bearing 31 fits the machined bore 24 to support shaft 34 concentrically therewith and is disposed adjacent shoulder 23 to engage the same as will be described.

The stepped ring retainer 38 carrying the flange-type seal 39 is disposed in the upper end of bore 2| and projects above the upper face I of housing 8 to fit accurately the bore 40 in the lower end of housing 2 to align the housings upon assembly. Retainer 38 seated on bearing 26 and with seal 39 engaging shaft 4, closes passage 9 and secures bearin 26 against shoulder 20.

According to the invention, the cylindrical pump member or cartridge including the outer ring seal 4| and the inner flange-type seal 42 engaging shaft 34 is disposed in bore 24 rearwardly of bearing 31 to close chamber II.

In the assembly of lower unit 3 bearings 21 and 32 are first located in gear housing 8. Shaft 4 with bearing 26 mounted thereon may then be installed in passage 9 and thereafter gear 29 is secured thereon with screw 3| using chamber II for access to the lower end 39 of shaft 4.

The assembly comprising shaft 34, gear 35 secured thereon by pin 36, bearin 31 secured on the hub of gear 35 by means of the snap ring 43 and pump member 5 are then installed in chamber II. The shims 44 are employed where necessary between shoulder and bearing 26 and shoulder 23 and bearing 31 to dispose gears 29 and in the correct relationship.

The forward tie-bolt 45 and the rear bolt 46 receiving nut I9 secure gear housing 8 to the lower end of drive shaft housing 2 with ring member 38 closing passage 9 seated in bore 43 in the lower end of housing 2 so that the Vertical thrust iii) of gear 29 on shaft 4 is transmitted through bearing 26 and member 38 to housing 2.

The closure disc 1 fitting the threads 25 in the rear of chamber I I and having a central hole accommodating shaft 34 is disposed against pump member 5 and secures the same forwardly against bearing 31. The ring 41 disposed between hearing 31 and member 5 engages seal M to compress the same axially and to expand the same outwardly against the wall of chamber II in watertight engagement therewith. Disc 1 through member 5 further secures bearing 31 against shoulder 23 to maintain gear 25 in the predetermined desired position and receives the axial thrust of the gear in the operation of the motor. The forward thrust of propeller I6 is carried by bearing 31 through gear 35, pin 36 and snap ring 43.

The pump member 5 is disposed in chamber I I so that the water inlet ports 48 in the side of torpedo section I4 of housing 8 register with the lower inlet 49 of pump housing 5 opening into chamber 6.

The discharge passage 50 in housing 8 may be formed by drilling the cast housing 8 from chamber II angularly into the lower end of the cored hole 5I. The hole 5I, as shown, receives the lower end of the water supply pipe 52 which latter is connected with the water circulating system, not shown, of engine I and communicates through passage 50 with the outlet 53 of pump housing 5.

The vane type impeller 54 is mounted on shaft 34 and rotationally secured thereto by the key 55 within chamber 6 of pump member 5 in the assembly of shaft 34 therewith as described above or otherwise prior to securing disc 1 in place at the opening of chamber II. Chamber 6 is eccentrically disposed with respect to shaft 34 passing through housing 5 for operation of the pump by displacement or by centrifugal action to supply water through passage 50 and pipe 52 to the cooling system of engine I at all times while the motor is in operation. Pump member 5 is secured Within chamber II against rotation by tightening disc 1.

Disc 1, if threaded oppositely of the rotation of shaft 34, is adequately secured without other means.

In the lower end unit 56 shown in Figs. 5 and 6 of the drawings the gear housing 51 is provided with the chamber 58 opening rearwardly of housing 51 to receive the gears59 and 69 which engage and are driven by drive gear 29 on shaft 4 in opposite directions.

The double row of bearings 31 mounted in the machined bore 6| of chamber 58 and carrying hub 62 of gear 59 rotatably supports gear 59 and with bearing 32 in the forward end of chamber 58 supports the propeller shaft 63 which is free to rotate in the bore 64 of hub 62 through which it extends rearwardly of hou ing 51.

Gear 69 is disposed forwardly of gear 29 and is carried by the rollers 65 on shaft 63 for free rotation with respect thereto. The axial thrust bearing washer 66 on shaft 62 is provided forwardly of gear 69.

The selective rotational driving connection of shaft 63 and gear 59 or is provided by the clutch collar 61 mounted on shaft 63 fo limited axial movement between the gears. carried by collar 61 projects through the slot 69 in shaft 63 to secure the latter and collar 61 rotationally. I

The crank 19 is pivotally secured by the pin 1I The pin 68 within the slot. 12 formed in housing. 51: at the bottom of chamber 58 and includes the open. yoke 13 the endsof which ride in the annular slot 14 of. collar 91. Ilhe control; rod 15 extending downwardly through housing. 55: in. the bore 16 is connected to crank by the yoke 11 extending. around the hub of gear 99. Movement of rod. asv controlled: by the operator of. the outboard motor moves: clutch collar 61 through crank 19 into or out of engagement with the clutch faces 1'8 of gear 59 or 69 whereby propeller I6 carried by shaft-63 is driven in a forward or rearward direction. In the position of collar 61 shown in Fig. 5: intermediate gears 59 and 69' shaft 63 is not. driven in either direction so that the motor may be operated in neutral.

As in the embodiment; of." the invention shown in Fig. 3, the threaded closure disc 1 installed near the rear opening of chamber 58 secures the pump member 5 and bearings 3'! in chamber 58 against the shoulder l9'of housing 51.

Impeller 54 in chamber 5 of pump member 5 is mounted on hub 62 of gear 59 which extends rearwardly' through member 5 and disc I. The

, cap 80 mounted on the splines 8| of shaft 63 carries' the flange-type seal 82 which closes the end of hub 62 to prevent water from passing between shaft 64 and the hub into chamber 58.

The assembly of drive shaft 4- and the driving gear 29 in chamber 58'of lower unit 56 is similar to that of lower unit 3 described above.

The control rod l5, crank 19 and yoke 13 are then assembled in housing 5'! but without pin H. The forward driven gear 69with rollers 65 is then disposed in chamber 58 with the washer The assembly comprising shaft 63, gear, 59, bearings 57 assembled on the hub 62 of gear- 59 with snap ring 43', clutch collar Ell, pump member 5 and impeller 54 mounted on hub 62 as described, is then installed in chamber 581 The initial location of gear 50 may be established and maintained by interchanging washer 66 with washers of' different thickness and shims 44 are employed to adjust the positions of gears 29 and 59.

The closure disc 1' havin a slightly larger hole to accommodate hub 62 of gear 59 is then'installed to close housing '51 and secure pump member 5 and'bearings' 3'! against shoulder 19. Seal 62 is fitted with cap 80 on shaft 93 to com-v plete the lower unit for receiving. propeller l6.

In the lower end unit 83 shown in Figs. 7 and. .8', the housing; 94 is provided with the vertical bore'fll of housing 84 carries gear 59 and shaft 63. The closure member 89' fitting bore 81 carries seals 4| and 42 to c ose chamber 86 and is secured by disc i in the chamber which serves to hold bearings 91 against the shoulder 89 in chamber 86.' Gear 69 and the control mechanism includ-' ing rod 15 are employed as in the embodiment of' the invention illustrated in Figs. 5' and 6. V

The vertical drive shaft 90 carries drivegear bore independently of said shaft, means retained 29 at its lower end and is supported by roller bearing unit 21 near the lower end of' recess 85 bore. 92 at the upper end of recess 85 so that its" inlet 49. registers: with the slots 93. in the upper facev 94 of housing 84,. and which extend from.

either side of the housing into the forward portion of bore 9-2.

The: drive shaft housing 95 carries 'unit 83 which is: secured thereto by the bolts 45 and 46 with the gasket 96 disposed therebetween. Housing 95 is provided with the bore 9'! in its lower end. which is complemental to bore 92 to receive the upper projecting part of pump member 5. Housing 95 serves to close chamber 6 in which impeller 54 isoperatively mounted on shaft 99.

The water supply pipe 52 carried by housing 95 registers with the discharge recess 98 in the upper face 94 of housing 84 which receives the water coolant discharge from. the outlet 53 of pump housing member 5.

Housing member 5 carrying seals 4| and 42 closes the upper end of recess and'is secured therein by housing. 95 and tie bolts 45 and 46 ing unit 25. 'After securing impeller 54 on shaft within chamber 6- of pump housingmember 5 the lower unit. may be secured. to housing with pumpmember 5 being disposed in the bore 91 to be closed by housing 9.5 and to align housings 84 and 95.

In. the embodiments described. the cylindrical pump cartridge member 5 carrying the seals 4! and 42' serves to close the recess or chamber in" which the same is disposed and with disc 1 or housing. 95,. secures the adjacent bearings assembled an'dsupporting' the respective shaft in the corresponding recess or chamber.

Pump chamber 6 of housing member 5 is read-- ily opened for inspection by removing disc 1 or upon. disassembly of housings 84 and 95 and upon removal of impeller 54 member 5- maybe withdrawn from the housing without disassembly of other parts of the lower end unit; a

In units 56 and 83, the pump unitis disposed so as to be operative with the motor at all times irrespective of the selective gear transmission means between the drive shaft connected to the motor and the propeller shaft.

Various. embodiments of the invention. may be employed within the scope of the accompanying claims- I claim;

1. An. outboard motor underwater propeller unit, comprising a housing member having a streamlined outer body and a chamber therein including a-cylindrical bore opening axially of said housing, a shaft journally supported within said chamber and projecting centrally and axially through said bore and from. said housing, a cylindrical pump body member disposed within said by said'pump body member within said. bore to seal the same and said-chamber, and a water coolant circulating impeller mounted on said shaft to operate within said pump body member. 2a An outboard. motor underwater propeller unit; comprising av housing. member having a streamlined. outer body and a chamber therein including a cyIi r-i'dricalv bore opening axially of said housing, a shaft journally supported within said chamber and projecting centrally and axially through said bore and from said housing, a cylindrical pump body member disposed within said bore independently of said shaft to seal the same and said chamber, said body member having a pump chamber formed therein opening exteriorly of the housing, an impeller mounted on said shaft to operate within said pump chamber, and a disc secured within said bore to said housing exteriorly of said pump body member and closing the latter and securing the same within said housing.

3. An outboard motor underwater propeller unit, comprising a housing member having a streamlined outer body and a chamber therein including a cylindrical bore opening axially of said housing, a shaft journally supported within said chamber and projecting centrally and axially through said bore and from said housing, a cylindrical pump body member disposed within said bore independently of said shaft to seal the same and said chamber, said body member having a pump chamber formed therein opening exteriorly of the housing, an impeller mounted on said shaft to operate within said pump chamber, and a member secured to said housing closing said pump chamber and retaining said cylindrical pump body member within said bore. a

4. In an outboard motor, an underwater propeller unit comprising a cast housing member having a streamlined outer body and a chamber therein including a cylindrical bore opening, a bearing mounted within said bore opening of said housing, a shaft journally carried by said bearing and extending from within said chamber through said bore opening, a water coolant supply passage for said motor within the body of said cast housing member communicating with said bore exteriorly of said bearing, a cylindrical closure member mounted within said opening independently of said shaft and securing said bearing within said housing and closing said chamher, and a water coolant circulating pump impeller operatively mounted on said propeller shaft, said closure member comprising an outer body for said pump impeller and having an outlet communicating directly with said passage.

5. An outboard motor underwater propeller unit, comprising a housing member having a streamlined outer body and a chamber therein including a cylindrical bore opening longitudinally of said housing, said housing having adjacent to said chamber an annular shoulder formedby said bore and facing the open end thereof, a

bearing disposed within the bore and against the shoulder of said housing, a shaft extending through the bore and into the chamber of said housing and journally carried by said bearing, said bearing also constituting an axial thrust bearing securing said shaft axially within said bore, a cylindrical pump body mounted within the bore of said housing and closing the same and said chamber and securing said bearing axially against the shoulder of said housing independently of said shaft, and a flexible vane pump impeller mounted on said shaft to operate within said pump body.

6. An outboard motor underwater propeller unit, comprising a housing member having a streamlined outer body and a chamber therein including a cylindrical bore opening longitudinally of said housing, said housing having within said chamber an annular shoulder formed by said bore and facing the open end thereof, a bearing disposed within the bore and against the shoulder of said housing, a shaft extending through the bore and journally carried by said bearing, said bearing also constituting an axial thrust bearing securing said shaft axially within said bore, a cylindrical pump body mounted within the bore of said housing and closing the same and said chamber and securing said bearing axially against the shoulder of said housing independently of said shaft, said pump body having a chamber formed therein and opening exteriorly, a pump impeller mounted on said shaft to operate within said last named chamber, and a disc threadedly secured Within the bore of said housing and exteriorly of said pump body to close the latter and securing the same therein and said bearing against the shoulder thereof and said shaft against axial displacement.

7. An outboard motor underwater propeller unit, comprising a housing member having a streamlined outer body and a chamber therein including a cylindrical bore opening longitudinally of said housing, said housing having within said chamber an annular shoulder formed by said bore and facing the open end thereof, a bearing disposed within the bore and against the shoulder of said housing, a shaft extending through the bore and journally carried by said bearing, said bearing also constituting an axial thrust bearing securing said shaft axially within said bore, a cylindrical pump body mounted within the bore of said housing and closing the same and said chamber and securing said bearing axially against the shoulder of said housing independently of said shaft, said pump body having a chamber formed therein and opening exteriorly, a pump impeller mounted on said shaft to operate within said last named chamber, and means closing said pump body and securing the same within said housing and said bearing against the shoulder thereof and said shaft against axial displacement.

8. An outboard motor underwater assembly, comprising a single piece cast metal housing having a gear chamber therein with an upwardly opening bore to receive the drive shaft and a rearwardly opening bore to receive the propeller shaft, said housing having an outwardly facing circumferential shoulder adjacent said gear chamber and at-the inner end of each of said bores, a drive shaft in said upwardly opening bore and having a drive gear secured thereon in said gear chamber, a propeller shaft centrally of said rearwardly opening bore and extending into said gear chamber and having thereon a driven gear meshing with said drive gear, a bearing disposed in each bore to support each corresponding shaft and gear-for rotation, means securing each said bearing against the corresponding shoulder to secure said bearings and corresponding shafts against axial displacement in either direction, one of said last named means comprising a cylindrical pump unit mounted for free axial adjustment upon the corresponding shaft and secured in the corresponding bore against the bearing, said housing having a passage extending from the pump and continuously to the upper end of said housing to receive water discharged by the pump and a second passage through the wall ofthe bore adjacent said pump to supply water to the pump, a seal ring disposed between said pump and the adjacent bearing and expanded into sealing engagement with the wall of the corresponding bore inwardly of said passages to seal said gear, chamber from.

leakage of water into the same, and means seal-' ing said pump unit upon said shaft to complete the sealing of said chamber.

9. The structure of claim 8 in which the pump unit comprises a pump casing disposed independently of the shaft therethrough and carrying the shaft seal, and aflexible vane-impeller mounted upon'the shaft and disposed for rotation within the pump casing.

10. The structure of claim 8 in which the pump unit comprises a casing opening outwardly of the housing and carrying the shaft seal, a rotary impeller mounted upon the shaft for rotagon within said casing, and a plate closing the pump casing and removably secured within the corresponding bore of the housing.

11. An outboard motor underwater assembly,

comprising a single piece cast metal streamlined housing free of parting lines exposed to the water in which it is submerged and having a gear chamber therein with a rearwardly opening bore to receive the propeller shaft, said housing having an outwardly facing circumferential shoulder adjacent the gear chamber and at the inner end of the bore and having a water inlet passage through the wall of said bore and spaced rearwardly of said shoulder and a water coolant passage extending from said bore at a location spaced rearwardly of said shoulder to the top of said housing, a propeller shaft disposed centrally of said bore, a combined journal and axial thrust bearing disposed 'in said bore and against said shoulder to rotationally support said shaft, a pump cartridge mounted for free axial adjustment upon said shaft and secured within said bore and against said bearing to thereby secure said shaft against axial displacement in either direction, said pump cartridge having a radially disposed inlet registering with said inlet passage vin said housing wall and a radially disposed discharge outlet registering with said water coolant passage in said housing, and means sealing said pump cartridge to the shaft and to the walls of said bore at a location between said bearing and said inlet and outlet passages to close said bore against leakage of water into said gear chamber.

12. The structure of claim 11 in which the pump cartridge is secured within the bore of the housing by means threaded in the outer end of said bore.

ELMER C. KIEKHAEFER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,579,834 Pierce Apr. 6, 1926 1,762,957 Buehner June 10, 1930 1,857,636 Heide May 10, 1932 2,212,939 Irgens Aug. 27, 1940 2,351,050 Karey June 13, 1944 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 295,865 Great Britain Aug. 23, 1928 

